Exercising-machine



(No Model.) I

J.L.BENNETT.

' EXEROISING MAOHINE. No, 247,532. Patented Sept. 27,1881.

E71 I a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN'L/BENNETT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

EXERClSlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,532, dated September 27, 1881.

Application filed March 24,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN L. BENNETT, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rowing and Exercising Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce an exercising apparatus for the development of the muscles which shall assimilate as near as possible the action and effect of rowing.

The invention consists in the employment of a pair of double f usee-pulleys, around which cords are wound, each pulley having at its inner central ends acoiled spring, which is wound up as the cords are drawn in the act of pullin g, for the purpose of rewinding the cord on the pulley when the stroke is completed. On each outer end of the shaft that carries the pulleys is a wheel having a pawl at its center, which engages with a ratchet on the outer ends of the fusee-pulleys, and so arranged that in drawing the cords the wheels and fusees will turn together, and when the cords are released the pulleys will turn and rewind the cords independently of the wheels. The peripheries of the wheels are made to bear against rubber rollers or brakes, which are rendered adjustable, so as to constitute a resistance, against which the force is applied, the amount or degree of resistance being regulated by causing the rollers or brakes to bear with greater or less force against the wheels, as desired.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a plan or top view of an apparatus embodyin g my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line any of Figs. 1 and 2.

a is the frame of the apparatus. 8 is a sliding seat, ando the foot-rest on the cross-bar d. At the front end of the frame a, on each side, are the standards b b, in which is sup ported a shaft, 6, carrying two double fuseepulleys, p p, the largest diameter of each being at the central ends, g g, thence diminishin g in diameter toward the center of their length, and again increasing toward their outer ends. Within the central end of each portion of the fusee is a coiled spring, t, secured at one end to the shaft 0 and at the other end to the fusee, so that in drawing the cords to unwind them from the fusees the spring will be wound up to its greatest tension, and when the cords are released after being drawn out the springs t will cause the fusees to turn in the contrary direction and rewind the cords h.

On the outer ends of the shaft 6 are wheels f f, having each a recess on the inner surface at the center, in which is arranged a springpawl, r, which engages with ratchetteeth on a rabbeted shoulder of the outer end of each fusee p p, which enters the recess at the center of the wheel, 'as shown in Fig. 3. The pawl and ratchet are so arranged that in drawing the cords h the fusees and wheels will be caused to rotate together, but when the cords are released the fusees will turn back by the action of the coiled springs 1?, while the wheels)" will remain stationary, the pawls slipping over the ratchet in backward movement. The resistance of the wheels is caused by their bearing upon the rubber rollers k 70, connected to a bar, 1, extending across the frame. The lower edge of thecross-bar lrests upon the frame a, and is so arranged as to admit ofa movement of its upper edge toward or from the wheels ff, for the purpose of causing the rollers 70 k to bear with greater or less force against the peripheries of the wheels f f. This adjustment is effected by means of a rod, n, pivoted to the front part of the frame at 0, and, passing the bar I, is provided with a thumb-nut, m, screwed on the end of rod a.-

The rollers may be made of other material than rubber.

The cords h h are shown as attached to a bar or rod, 41, so that they may be pulled together; but it is designed that each rope may be provided with a separate handle.

Instead of rollers 76 7c, brakes of wood or other material, with a facing of rubber 0 other frictional surface, may be used.

In the ordinary exercising-machines the objection is found that the strain from the resistance, whether produced by springs or weights, is continuous from the commencement of the pull or stroke to that of another stroke, and

that on the same set of muscles, whereas in my invention the resistance ceases at the end of the stroke, thus calling into play another set of muscles while resuming position for another pull or stroke, as in actual rowing.

It will thus be seen that the power applied to the fusee-pulley constructed as described is equivalent to that exerted in 'pulling an oar, the first and last portion of the stroke of the car requiring less power than that at the intermediate part of the stroke.

The apparatus may be used as an exercisingmachine by placing it in an upright position or otherwise arranging it so that a person can use it when in a standing position.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. The double fusee-pulleys 12 1), having their axes c mounted in proper bearin gs, in combination with the springs 75, the ropes [L h, and a JOHN L. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

J. H. ADAMS, JOHN A. CARR. 

